Thin desktop local area network switch

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for an automatically configured network switch are provided. The network switch includes a plurality of ports, a switch fabric, switch control logic, and a switch configuration module. The ports are configured to be coupled to a plurality of network communication links. The switch fabric is coupled to each of the ports, providing interconnections between the ports. The switch control logic is coupled to the switch fabric to provide data path selection and arbitration. The switch configuration module is configured to generate a request for switch configuration information to be transmitted from one or more ports of the switch, over the network, to a switch management server. The switch control logic is configured to configure one or more features of the network switch to operate according to the received configuration information.

1 . A method in a switch for interfacing with a network, comprising:
 transmitting a request over the network for a network address for the switch;   receiving the network address for the switch over the network;   receiving a network address for a switch management server over the network;   transmitting a request over the network to the switch management server for switch configuration information;   receiving the configuration information from the switch management server entity over the network; and   configuring one or more features of the switch according to the received configuration information.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information includes at least one authentication setting, wherein said receiving the configuration information comprises:
 receiving the at least one authentication setting, wherein the at least one authentication setting includes one or more of a network address for an authentication server, a password for communications with the authentication server, a default level of access to the network for a device coupled to a port of the switch, or an indication of whether authentication is required for a device coupled to a port of the switch.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information includes network access control (NAC) information, wherein said receiving the configuration information comprises:
 receiving the NAC information, wherein the NAC information indicates one or more security constraints to be satisfied by a device coupled to a port of the switch prior to communications over the network by the device.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information includes quality of service (QOS) information, wherein said configuring one or more features of the switch according to the received configuration information comprises:
 prioritizing communications over a port of the switch higher than communications over other ports of the switch based on the QOS information.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information includes quality of service (QOS) information, wherein said configuring one or more features of the switch according to the received configuration information comprises:
 prioritizing communications containing information of a first type higher than communications containing information of one or more other types based on the QOS information.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information includes an access list, the method further comprising:
 receiving a communication signal at a first port of the switch;   determining whether the access list indicates that the communication signal should be blocked;   blocking the communication signal if the access list indicates that the communication signal should be blocked; and   transmitting the communication signal at a second port of the switch if the access list does not indicate that the communication signal should be blocked.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said determining whether the access list indicates that the communication signal should be blocked comprises:
 determining whether at least one of an application related to the communication signal, a network address of a sending device of the communication signal, a user associated with the communication signal, or the second port are indicated as blocked in the access list.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information includes virtual local area network (VLAN) configuration information, wherein said receiving the configuration information comprises:
 receiving the VLAN configuration information.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information includes port configuration information, wherein said receiving the configuration information comprises:
 receiving the port configuration information.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring a status of communication traffic handled by the switch.   
   
   
       11 . A method in a server coupled to a network, comprising:
 receiving a request from a switch for configuration information; and   transmitting the configuration information to the switch;   whereby the switch receives the transmitted configuration information and configures one or more switch features according to the received configuration information.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the configuration information includes at least one of authentication information, network access control (NAC) information, quality of service (QOS) information, access list information, virtual local area network (VLAN) information, or port configuration information. 
   
   
       13 . A network switch, comprising:
 a plurality of ports configured to be coupled to a plurality of network communication links;   a switch fabric coupled to each of the plurality of ports;   a switch control logic coupled to the switch fabric; and   a switch configuration module coupled to the switch control logic;   wherein the switch configuration module is configured to generate a request to be transmitted from a port over the network for a network address for the network switch and a network address for a switch management server;   wherein the switch configuration module is configured to generate request to be transmitted from a port over the network to the switch management server for switch configuration information; and   wherein the switch control logic is configured to configure one or more features of the network switch according to the received configuration information.   
   
   
       14 . The network switch of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration information includes authentication information, wherein the authentication information includes one or more of a network address for an authentication server, a password for communications with the authentication server, a default level of access to the network for a device coupled to a port of the network switch, or an indication of whether authentication is required for a device coupled to a port of the network switch. 
   
   
       15 . The network switch of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration information includes network access control (NAC) information, wherein the NAC information indicates one or more security constraints to be satisfied by a device coupled to a port of the network switch prior to communications over the network by the device. 
   
   
       16 . The network switch of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration information includes quality of service (QOS) information, wherein the switch control logic is configured to prioritize communications over a port of the network switch higher than communications over other ports of the network switch based on the QOS information. 
   
   
       17 . The network switch of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration information includes quality of service (QOS) information, wherein the switch control logic is configured to prioritize communications containing information of a first type higher than communications containing information of one or more other types based on the QOS information. 
   
   
       18 . The network switch of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration information includes an access list, wherein the network switch is configured to block a received communication signal if the access list indicates that the communication signal should be blocked. 
   
   
       19 . The network switch of  claim 18 , wherein the network switch is configured to block the received communication signal if the network switch control logic determines that at least one of an application related to the communication signal, a network address of a sending device of the communication signal, a user associated with the communication signal, or a port associated with the received communication signal is indicated as blocked in the access list. 
   
   
       20 . The network switch of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration information includes virtual local area network (VLAN) configuration information. 
   
   
       21 . The network switch of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration information includes port configuration information. 
   
   
       22 . The network switch of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a switch monitor module configured to monitor a status of communication traffic handled by the network switch.   
   
   
       23 . A server coupled to a network, comprising:
 switch configuration information provider module configured to receive a request from a switch for configuration information, and to transmit the configuration information to the switch;   whereby the switch receives the transmitted configuration information and configures one or more switch features according to the received configuration information.   
   
   
       24 . The server of  claim 23 , wherein the configuration information includes at least one of authentication information, network access control (NAC) information, quality of service (QOS) information, access list information, virtual local area network (VLAN) information, or port configuration information.